#Kyle Harimoto

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'NCIS: Los Angeles' terminará con la temporada 14 en CBS.

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 14 Rewatch:    “New Beginnings Part One”

The basics:  NCIS’s Office of Special Projects gets involved with an ATF undercover operation.

Written by: Kyle Harimoto & R. Scott Gemmill

Kyle Harimoto wrote "Omni", "Merry Evasion", "Chernoff, K" (season six finale), "Command and Control" as episode 150, "Granger, O.", "Ghost Gun", "Kulinda", "767", "Se Murio El Payaso", "Assets"/"Liabilities", "Venganza", "Superhuman", "One of Us", "Let Fate Decide" (season 11 premiere), "Decoy", "Answers" , "Watch Over Me", "Cash Flow", "Fukushu", "Bonafides", "Come Together" (season 13 finale) and "Of Value".  He co-wrote "Three Hearts", "Leipei", "Humbug", both ends of the "Matryoshka" two-parter (part one with Gemmill), "Smokescreen" part two, "Searching", "A Fait Acompli", "A Tale of Two Igors" (season 12 finale, with Gemmill) and "Best Seller".

R. Scott Gemmill wrote/cowrote "The Only Easy Day", "Brimstone", "Breach", "LD50", "Found", "Borderline", "Absolution", "Archangel", "Tin Soldiers", "Impostors", "Cyberthreat", "Honor", "The Watchers" and both sides of the NCIS Los: Angeles/Hawaii Five-0 "Touch of Death" episodes, "Recruit", "Free Ride", "Wanted", "Ravens and The Swans", "Impact", "War Cries", both ends of the "Deep Trouble" season five finale/season six premiere, "Inelegant Heart", "Praesidium", "Traitor", "Active Measures" (season seven premiere), "Blame It On Rio", "Internal Affairs", "Matryoshka" part one (with Harimoto),  "Talion" (season seven finale), "High Value Target"/"Belly of the Beast" (season eight premieres), "The Queen’s Gambit", "Under Siege", "Unleashed" (season eight finale), "Party Crashers" (season nine’s premiere), "This Is What We Do" (episode 200), "Các Tù Nhân", "Goodbye Vietnam", "Ninguna Salida" (the season nine finale), "Hit List", "Asesinos", "Till Death Do Us Part", "Choke Point", "The Guardian", "Hail Mary", "Kill Beale Vol. 1", "Alsiyadun", "Fortune Favors the Brave", "The Bear" (season 12 premiere), "Angry Karen", "Love Kills", "Russia, Russia, Russia", "The Noble Maidens", "A Tale of Two Igors" (season 12 finale with Harimoto), "Subject 17" (season 13 premiere), "All The Little Things", "MWD", Work and Family", "Game of Drones" and "A Long Time Coming" NCIS/NCIS: Hawaii cross-over hour. 

Directed by:  John P. Kousakis directed "Imposters", "Sacrifice", "San Voir" part one, "The Fifth Man", "Parley", "Inelegant Heart", "Chernoff, K." (season six finale), "Active Measures", "The Long Goodbye", "Talion" (season seven finale), "Glasnost", "Unleashed" (season 8 finale), "Party Crashers" (season nine premiere), "This Is What We Do" (episode 200), "Goodbye Vietnam", "Ninguna Salida" (season nine finale), "The Guardian", "High Society", "A Tale of Two Igors" (season 12 finale), "Under the Influence", "Genesis", "Come Together" (season 13 finale), "A Farewell to Arms", all of the Afghanistan scenes from "Iron Curtain Rising" to "Zero Days" in season five and all of Kensi’s injury/recovery storyline scenes from "The Queen’s Gambit" to "Sirens" in season eight. 

Guest stars of note: Bar Paly as Anastasia "Anna" Kolchek is back from “Shame”, season 14’s 14th episode, Ava McCoy as Jordyn Rountree is back from “Sleeping Dogs”, season 14’s 16th episode, Richard Gant as Raymond Hanna is back from “Dead Stick”, season 14’s 4th episode, Vyto Rugins as Arkady Kolchek is back from “Blood Bank”, season 14’s 9th episode, Natalia del Riego as Rosa is back from “The Other Shoe”, season 14’s 15th episode, Lesley Boone as Nina Barnes is back from “A Farewell to Arms”, season 14’s 13th episode, Duncan Campbell has done three episodes in a row as Agent Castor, CSI's Liz Vassey as ATF SAC Kerry Adams, Celeste Den as NMC Commander Collins and former UFC Champion Randy Couture as ATF Agent Bill Newsome.

Our heroes:   Are nearing the end.

What important things did we learn about: Callen: Wondering if he’s doing the right thing with Anna. Sam: Believes Callen is doing the right thing with Anna.   Kensi:  Not feeling well. Deeks:   Happy, grateful and enjoying his family moments. Fatima:  Doing a warrantless search. Rountree:  Hearing from his lawyer about his lawsuit against LAPD. Kilbride:  Working well with other agencies.

What not so important things did we learn about: Callen:  Wasn’t interested in how Arkady was banned from the Playboy Mansion until he was really interested. Sam:  Working out with Raymond in the park Kensi: Eating leftovers in the fridge. Deeks:  Not removing expired leftovers from the fridge. Fatima:  Master of the obvious as the episode ends. Rountree:  Being his sister’s biggest fan. Kilbride:  Making a rare visit during the work day to the boat shed.

Where in the world is Henrietta Lange?  In the previously-s.

Who's down with OTP:   Callen and Anna/Kensi and Deeks are having some ups and downs but are all very much in love.

Who's down with BrOTP:  If you don’t think the penultimate episode isn’t going to play up the most important relationship in the show, you would be wrong.

Fashion review:  Callen starts the day in a light blue workout shirt with a darker blue workout jacket.  Later, he wears a blue plaid button down shirt.  Sam wears black workout gear and a black cap in the park with Raymond, black long-sleeve tee at work.  Kensi wears a black top to the office.  Working overwatch, Kensi and Deeks are in light green jackets with light colored-pants so they fit in with the nature around them.  Deeks starts the episode in dark grey sweatshirt.  Fatima wears black cropped shrug sweater over a white tee-shirt that is fantastic.  Rountree  light blue tee-shirt and a really light blue demin jacket.  Kilbride has a charcoal grey three-piece suit, light blue dress shirt, beige paisley tie with a hint of pink.

Music:   “Pushin’ Rope” by Dead Things and War is playing in Anna’s ear buds when Arkady comes to visit. “Hunt You Down” by Jonathan Murrill, Lee Richardson, Tom Ford, James Cocozza and Raxstar is playing in the gunrunner’s home.

Any notable cut scene:  Yes!  After Rosa leaves for school, Deeks reviews some of her assignments – all A’s.  Kensi is in awe – Rosa makes all her excellent work look so easy, especially with English being a second language.  Kensi thinks Rosa is smarter than both of them.  Deeks thinks one of them – the one who is a scavenger when it comes to left overs in the fridge.  Kensi mentions that he’s the one who lets the food stay in the fridge for so long.  The conversation devolves into zombies.  Kensi wants to play a game where Deeks won’t talk without Kensi asking a question.  He doesn’t like that game.  She said she didn’t ask a question.

Quote:  Callen:  “You think I'm doing the right thing?” Sam:  “Doesn't matter what I think or anyone else, for that matter.  But, yes, I think you're doing the right thing.” Callen:  “What?” Sam:  “Nothing.” Callen:  “Come on, tell me.” Sam:  “It's just, it's just hard to believe, you know?  G. Callen, the nomad, the lone wolf, the shadow, about to be a married man.” Callen:  “Yup.  Did you plan your wedding?” Sam:  “Are you kidding me?  You knew Michelle.  I was lucky she let me attend.  That woman was nothing  if not a taskmaster.  Wow.  Long time ago.”

Anything else:  Lots of previously-s including the Rosa barbeque on the beach, Callen proposing, Sam dealing with Raymond’s condition, Rountree and Jordyn’s awful police encounter, Kilbride and Hetty having a talk before she left for Syria and Kilbride telling Callen Hetty was going.

In what looks like an abandoned warehouse, an intruder breaks in through the skylight.  He finds a few shipping containers.  One is empty.  The other has boxes, but they’re empty too.  Looking at some of the warehouse shelves, the intruder pulls the pin on a special grenade that starts a countdown.  A security guard confronts the intruder, with two men acting as back up.  As the guard tries to handcuff the intruder, the grenade blows.  Nobody is too badly hurt.  The intruder is able to punch and kick his way through the guards. 

In their dining room, Callen and Anna are negotiating the seating arrangement for the wedding.  Arkady is bringing two dates and dates can’t sit near each other.  Callen jokes that Arkady thinks he’s Hugh Hefner.  This brings back memories for Anna of when Arkady was banned from the Playboy Mansion for dressing as Britney Spears, complete with a live snake, for a Halloween party.

Anna gets a call.  Two members of the band for the wedding has been in a car crash.  They are all alive and doing well but can’t play.  Anna is really upset.  Callen promises that it is all going to work out – “it always does.” 

In the park, Sam is sparring/working out with Raymond.  Raymond calls it a workout, surprising Sam since the Major he knew never quit a workout.  The Major Sam knew had his original hips, Raymond reminds Sam.  Besides, he was at the gym twice that week with Arkady.  “Cigarettes and a flask aren’t exactly the building blocks of a tough workout,” Sam tells his father.  Besides, Sam went through lots of tough workouts as a kids, workouts that would trigger a child protective services call today.  Raymond asks if Sam would have gotten through SEALS training without those workouts.  “Probably” is Sam’s answer. 

The Blye-Deeks home is getting ready to start the day.  They are just back from camping – Kensi brought the chocolate and graham crackers but Deeks forgot the marshmallows.  After Deeks makes a bad joke that smores without marshmallows are just sores, Rosa calls him on telling Dad Jokes.  They are going camping again soon. 

As Rosa leaves, Deeks revels in the happiness and love he feels for his family.  He’s mindful of all this.  Kensi chides him – Kilbride isn’t a mindful fan.  Kensi isn’t feeling well.  She ate week old shawarma Deeks left in the fridge and said was still good.  Deeks said when she mentioned leftovers, he thought she was talking the ribs.  Kensi wants all leftovers dated and tossed after 48 hours.  She’s only allowed to eat rice, applesauce, toast and bananas.  And it’s Deeks’s fault.

In his SUV, Rountree is giving advice to Jordyn, who is going in to interview for medical school.  She knows she wouldn’t be there without him.  Rountree doesn’t agree.  They compromise on it being a Rountree team effort.  Rountree is so proud of Jordyn.  She makes him promise not to be mopey if the interview doesn’t work.  But he know she’s going this.

A woman pulls up in a parking lot in a non-descript Ford sedan.  She’s meeting the Admiral in his non-descript American sedan.  Introducing herself as ATF SAC Kerry Adams, she is asked by the Admiral about why they are meeting.  Adams has an agent, William Newsome, who is working a long undercover operation.  She shows a photo of Newsome to the Admiral.  It is the intruder at the warehouse.  Adams claims that Newsome has had an exceptional career with ATF, “truly one of our best.”  He’s working a case with stole weapons that are military grade.  Adams hasn’t spoken to Newsome for a while  - not uncommon but she’s concerned. 

There are people around Adams who believe Newsome may have flipped.  His daughter died of a drug overdose, he split up with his wife.  The Admiral calls it a familiar story.  Adams is concerned that if Newsome flipped, he knows how the ATF functions, knows some deep undercover ATF agents in the field.  She hopes she’s wrong when it comes to being suspicious of Newsome but if she’s not, Newsome is not someone they want to cross.  The Admiral promised Adams that if Newsome is in trouble, NCIS will help him.  If he’s flipped, well, NCIS and the ATF will deal with that if it happens.

Driving to work, Callen is reading the case to Sam.  Kilbride wants Callen and Sam to work with Newsome.  They are worried that being undercover so long, Newsome may project an image NCIS and the ATF want to see.  Callen thinks they’ll be fine – everyone has a tell.  Sam asks Callen what is his tell.  Callen tells Sam he tilts his head as a “tell”.  Sam tells Callen his  “tell” is giggling. 

Entering the boat shed, Agent Castor introduces Callen and Sam to Newsome.  The case is about “trigger happy gunrunners with a drug issue,” according to Newsome.  Sam thinks that a great combination.  Newsome is undercover to find out who is running the organization – nobody in law enforcement can figure that out – and where they are getting their military grade weapons.  Time is of the essence.  The organization will be leaving LA soon.  They have a large stockpile of weapons in town.  They want to sell the weapons and get out of town.  Newsome needs to return to the gang.  Callen and Sam will work on the organization’s leadership and where the guns are coming from.  Other agents will be assigned to watch Newsome.  Newsome is grateful for the help.

A distracted Rountree walks into Ops.  Fatima has Newsome’s activity reports on the big screen.  Noticing he’s texting, Fatima asks what’s going on.  Rountree tries to gloss over it but says his lawyer heard from LAPD.  He has news for Rountree once he knows what’s going on.  Fatima promises it is going to be alright.  Rountree is worried, Jordyn doesn’t need extra stress this week.  The two return to the case.  With the large cache of military weapons mentioned in Newsome’s reports, Fatima and Rountree think it is a good idea to call Nina Barnes (it is always a good idea to call Nina Barnes). 

It's Kensi and Deeks’s turn to walk into the boat shed to talk to Newsome.  This time the Admiral does the intros.  Kensi and Deeks are overwatch.  Newsome is worried he’s been made.  After the Admiral points out the house used by the gunrunners in Malibu Canyon, Deeks knows the area.  Kilbride tells Kensi, Deeks and Newsome that he doesn’t want any cowboy stuff.  If Newsome has been found out, Newsome needs to hit the deck with Kensi and Deeks firing inside the house.

In an outdoor parking lot, Callen and Sam are meeting Nina Barnes.  Callen thinks this meeting should be Barnes’s store or roach coach.  Fatima warns Callen not to call the pastry truck a roach coach if he expects Barnes to help.  She’s meeting with angel investors to take her pastries national. 

As they wait, Callen asks Sam if he is doing the right thing with Anna.  Sam says it doesn’t matter what he thinks, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.  And Sam thinks Callen is doing the right thing.  Sam is shocked – “G. Callen,  the nomad, the lone wolf, the shadow – about to be a married man.”  Callen asks if Sam planned his wedding.  Sam was lucky to go to his wedding.  Callen knew Michelle and she was nothing if not a taskmaster.  Sam stops and says “wow, a long time ago.”  Sam’s phone goes off.  Raymond is a candidate for a drug trial for his condition.  The people running the drug trial more information about Raymond.  That sounds like a good sign.

Looking at the big screen in Ops, Rountree notices Newsome’s finances are what they would expect but a second daughter is a Pepperdine without loans and driving a late model Range Rover.  That is too much money for college and transportation for someone with Newsome’s salary.  The ex-wife doesn’t have any money.  If Newsome is working with the gunrunners, NCIS could be walking into a trap as he protects his financial benefactors.

Still waiting for Nina Barnes, Callen asks if Sam has his best man’s speech ready to go.  Sam calls it a work in progress.  “Don’t tell the Damascus story,” Callen warns.  Sam is sad – the Damascus story is funny.  Barns walks up, saying hi to Sam and “other guy.”  She knows about the wedding, stating that she was married four times (twice to the same guy).  Saying she learned something about marriage, Callen asks if that is “you’re a joy to live with”?   He recommendation is “don’t do it” but she keeps getting married.

She knows a little about the organization Newsome has infiltrated.  They’re psychopaths who makes Russian bad guys look like Boy Scouts.  No name for the leader, the group runs very low to the ground and anyone who pushes is in big trouble.  Callen asks if Barnes couldn’t have told them all that info on the phone.  She could have but then she wouldn’t have seen Sam.  Callen is sighing.  Barnes says the organization has excellent intel.  Asked if that is coming from say an undercover ATF agent who may have flipped, Barnes is still checking.  She’ll have something for them at the end of the day along with their order for $200 worth of pastries.  She’s not working for free anymore.  Sam asks for red velvet cake and that will be part of the order.  She also promises same some lady fingers.

Callen calls into Ops.  He tells Fatima that he needs to speak to a Naval ordinance specialist.  That done, Callen thinks it is odd that Newsome is fine with NCIS backing him up and not his own agency.  Sam thinks Kilbride may have had a talk with Newsome.  Fatima asks if Callen needs a specific ordance specialist.  He doesn’t.  He just wants to look at the case from the weapons side. 

In the Malibu Canyon, Deeks is worried about snakes.  The Daryl Donkins story comes up, wondering if Rosa knows about Deeks’s reptilian heroism.  Kensi and Deeks call in their location to the Admiral.  The Admiral mentions Newsome’s questionable financials.  Deeks thinks something is up – Newsome was just a bit too cool about what was going on.  Why would he meet with NCIS while undercover?  The Admiral thinks it was to see what NCIS knew about Newsome’s work.  Kensi and Deeks may be doing overwatch to provide Newsome with an alibi.  The Admiral thinks it could be a trap.  With the Admiral off comms, Kensi asks if Deeks is thinks what she’s thinking.  “That Thin Mints are the devil’s candy.”  Kensi gives him a look before Deeks goes professional.  He wants them to move their overwatch location if Newsome is setting up a trap.  Deeks tells Kensi he knows that she knows how lucky she is to have him as a partner.  “Lucky, lucky, me,” she tells Deeks.  “Just hashtag blessed,” is his reply. 

Listening to music with her earbuds in, Anna hears a floor board creak.  She nearly kills Arkady, who let himself in after knocking and not getting an answer.  Anna called Arkady.  The wedding planning is getting to her.  He understands.  He thinks the only reason for marriage is to prepare a person for death.  She’s not thrilled with that particular thought.  Anna tells him about the band.  He suggests a number of Russian musicians but Anna doesn’t want the wedding to become Maslenitsa.  The good people at Google tell me that a Maslenitsa is “an ancient Orthodox Christian holiday celebrated in the last week before the Orthodox Lent. The festivities — also known as Pancake Week — are traditionally celebrated in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine and mark the end of winter.”  Arkady mentions there is always dancing at Maslenitsa, and who doesn’t like pancakes.

Anna said this was a bad idea.  Arkady agrees.  He’ll tell Grisha that the wedding was always a bad idea.  Calling Arkady an idiot, Anna makes it clear – the wedding is fine, calling Arkady for help was the bad idea.   Arkady suggests a Vegas DJ named Titan.  Bonus – Arkady plays Durak with Titan’s dad Aleksei.  Alesksei owes Arkady favors.  When he makes the call, Aleskei can get Titan to work the wedding with Callen and Anna figuring out how to pay.

Callen and Sam meet with Kerry Adams in the boat shed.  If Callen and Sam have any intel for her, Adams will be very impressed.  Sam says they are still working on some things, Adams says the same.  Callen thinks Newsome’s work is strong, the only question they have is financial when it comes to Newsome.  He’d also like to know why Adams had some initial suspicions about Newsome.  Sam pushes – what is Adams holding out on NCIS.  Adams says she is protecting her people and the ATF but she doesn’t suspect anyone.  Callen and Sam wonder about the other agencies Newsome works with including local law enforcement. 

Sam’s phone rings – it is Raymond.  Taking the call in interrogation, Raymond tells Sam his shoulder hurts so he’s not working out that day.  It takes Sam a minute to realize Raymond isn’t home, he’s back at the park.  Raymond walked to the park and he wants to walk home.  Sam wants Raymond to take a seat.  Raymond hangs up. 

Back in Ops, Rountree asks if Fatima found anything.  Newsome’s daughter has a college fund set up by her grandfather when she was born.  That clears the financials so Kilbride wants Fatima and Rountree to check out every law enforcement official Newsome has worked with during his career.  A real needle in a haystack.

In overwatch, Kensi sees two large Sprinter vans arriving at the Malibu house.  It could be a very big weapons delivery.

A Commander Collins is on a video call with the Admiral.  She is a weapons expert.  He briefs her on the case.  The munitions Fatima was able to inventory as part of the ATF investigation did not come from the Navy’s stockpiles.  She runs the inventory.  Nothing is missing.  Many of the items on the list, however, are common weapons used by militaries all over the world.  Collins will cross-reference the list Fatima sent to see who I using what.

Sam has a tracker on Raymond and finds him sitting, talking to a woman.  Raymond is charming.  Sam is frustrated, he was calling Raymond all the way over to the park.  Raymond has the phone on vibrate.  Too many telemarketers.  Raymond tries to introduce “Osama” to his new friend.  Sam pulls Raymond away.  Raymond doesn’t remember the morning workout, he thinks Sam is working too hard and forgetting what was going on.  The morning workout comes back to Raymond. 

Sam pushed the clinical trials but Raymond is worried about it.  He saw a doctor on CNN who wouldn’t take any medical treatment after the age of 75.  Sam is confused – the doctor isn’t a Marine.  Why is Raymond doing, or not doing this?  Raymond decides he’s in.  They share some family stories as Sam walks Raymond to his car.

Manning overwatch, Deeks using a parabolic microphone so he can hear the bad guys playing video games inside the house.  Deeks wants an Xbox.  Kensi is struggling.  She’s sniffling and working hard to concentrate.  Thinking they need full body scans for Rosa’s sake, Deeks goes on a long rant about the Doomsday Clock.  Kensi, anti-Doomsday and anti-Clock.  Kensi sees a new person entering the home. 

Inside the home, the new guy tells Newsome and some other gunrunning stooges that the boss has the money coming in so the “merch” needs to be ready to go.  Newsome, who is playing old-school pinball and not video games, asks about the “merch” and where the weapons are being held.  The new guy and Newsome get into it.  New guy pulls a knife on Newsome.  That was a mistake as Newsome chokes him out and relieves the new guy of his knife.  Newsome tells the new guy he can have his knife back when Newsome believes the new guy can handle it.  In overwatch, Kensi and Deeks are impressed.

Fatima pulls up Kerry Adams’s financials without a warrant or subpoena.  She’s dirty.  “We” have to tell the Admiral, Fatima says to Rountree.  Rountree isn’t so sure of the “we” part.

Kilbride calls into Callen and Sam.  Adams is dirty and has been for years.  The US Attorney’s Office can’t use the financials as a reason to indict Adams.  If Callen and Sam can catch her in the act, however, they may be able to bring her down.

Racing to Adams’s home, Callen and Sam drive into an underground garage just as Adams is being driven out.  Adams is shocked – has NCIS lost their minds.  That’s when the shooting starts.  In the back of Adams’s SUV, her driver pulls out a long gun and just lets loose on Callen, Sam and Sam’s car.  She pulls out an automatic weapon and joins in on the unloading fun.  Callen and Sam are hiding behind the Sam’s car as it is being blown to bits.   

On comms, Fatima helpfully adds that they are outgunned and have to move.

What head canon can be formed from here:    A really solid start to wrap up the series.  Played on all the notes the program hit over 14-seasons – long-term undercover who may have been swallowed up by his role, corruption in federal agencies, relationships that matter to our heroes. 

Loved the return of the show’s most recent “greatest hits” guest stars with Anna, Arkady, Rosa, Raymond and Nina Barnes, who the program should have found in season 10.

What is coming in part two was well set-up here.  I do think they did a good job cutting out the one scene.  Kensi and Deeks were sort of snotty to each other just after they had a lovely moment with Rosa and Deeks spoke about being in his happy place with his family.

A flaw in the storytelling – Adams gets NCIS involved because Newsome hasn’t called in to the office in days. Minutes later, he’s in the boat shed meeting with Castor, Callen, Sam, Kilbride, Kensi and Deeks. 

Episode number:   Episode 20 of season 14.  Episode 322 overall.  322 episodes down, one to go.

[ncisladaily]

The 2 Part Series Finale:

WHEN AN ATF AGENT GOES MISSING, THE BUREAU SEEKS HELP FROM THE NCIS TEAM TO INVESTIGATE STOLEN MILITARY-GRADE WEAPONS AND LOCATE THE AGENT, ON PART ONE OF THE “NCIS: LOS ANGELES” SERIES FINALE, SUNDAY, MAY 14

“New Beginnings” – When an ATF agent goes missing, the bureau seeks help from the NCIS team to investigate stolen military-grade weapons and locate the agent. Also, Callen and Anna continue to plan their wedding, Rountree’s sister interviews for medical school and Sam encourages his father to take part in the drug trial, on part one of the series finale of the CBS Original series NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Sunday, May 14 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

WRITTEN BY: Kyle Harimoto & R. Scott Gemmill

DIRECTED BY: John Peter Kousakis

-----------------------------

THE NCIS TEAM CONTINUES THE CASE WITH ATF AND THE STOLEN WEAPONS, AND CALLEN AND ANNA DECIDE ON AN IMPROMPTU WEDDING, ON THE SERIES FINALE OF “NCIS: LOS ANGELES,” SUNDAY, MAY 21

“New Beginnings, Part Two” – The NCIS team continues the case with ATF and the stolen military-grade weapons. Also, Callen and Anna decide on an impromptu wedding, on part two of the series finale of the CBS Original series NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Sunday, May 21 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

WRITTEN BY: Kyle Harimoto & R. Scott Gemmill

DIRECTED BY: John Peter Kousakis

Thank you all for enjoying these press releases over the years!

[blogger360ncislarules]

Daydreaming of who would write and direct 'The Search for Hetty'.

Yeah, I have too much time to think. And with that comes my top 3 choices of who I would like to write and direct 'The Search for Hetty' NCIS LA sequel movie if it were to ever be made:

Writers:

1, RSG

Shocked? Well, here are my strict reasons for him being my top choice despite my severe annoyance of what he did to this show:

1, He started the Syria/Morocco mission, he should be the one to get to finish it. 2, Most of the Hetty mentions throughout Seasons 12-14 came from his episodes 3, He started and ended the Vietnam arc, and it's ending is the kind of emotional ending I want to see again here. 4, Some of the best damn Hetty centric episodes, were yup, written by him.

So yeah. Despite it all, I believe if he wrote the movie, it would be the best, and would be handled in the best way with emotions and reunions.

2, Eric Christian Olsen

Reasons:

1, 'Mother' was incredible. (plus that ending. 🥰) 2, He wanted to write another Hetty episode, well. How about a Hetty centric movie?

3, Kyle Harimoto

Reason: Because I can't think of any other writers who would be well equipped to write such an important movie. (well, any GOOD writers who didn't leave for good at some point anyway).

Directors:

1, Diana Valentine

2, James Hanlon

3, JPK

[ncisfranchise-source]

CBS RENEWS ALL THREE HIT DRAMAS IN THE NCIS FRANCHISE FOR THE 2022-2023 BROADCAST SEASON

#1 Broadcast Series “NCIS,” Top Freshman Drama “NCIS: Hawai’i” and

“NCIS: Los Angeles” Set to Return

CBS has renewed all three hit dramas in the NCIS franchise for the 2022-2023 broadcast season. The returning CBS Original series are #1 broadcast series NCIS, top freshman drama NCIS: HAWAI`I and NCIS: LOS ANGELES. Additional renewals will be announced in the coming weeks.

“NCIS, one of the most popular and enduring series in the world, and fan favorite NCIS: LOS ANGELES have been hugely successful on the CBS schedule for years,” said Kelly Kahl, president, CBS Entertainment. “With the strong new addition of NCIS: HAWAI`I, we are able to expand the strength of this formidable franchise across our schedule. We couldn’t be more excited to have all three talented casts and creative teams back to bring more compelling NCIS stories to viewers in the U.S. and around the globe.”

About NCIS

NCIS is the #1 broadcast series this season, delivering 11.11 million viewers and improving its new Monday 9:00 PM time slot by +149%. This season, NCIS has amassed over 95.8 billion potential social media impressions.

Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover and Katrina Law, with David McCallum, Rocky Carroll and Gary Cole, star. Steven D. Binder, Chas. Floyd Johnson, Mark Horowitz, Mark Harmon, Scott Williams, David North and Donald P. Bellisario serve as executive producers. NCIS is produced by Belisarius Productions in association with CBS Studios. The series will return for season 20.

About NCIS: HAWAI`I

NCIS: HAWAI’I is currently averaging 8.29 million viewers and is a time period winner on Monday at 10:00 PM, improving the time slot by +26%. In addition, it’s virtually tied for #1 new drama. The series has amassed over 11 billion potential social media impressions during its freshman season.

Vanessa Lachey, Alex Tarrant, Noah Mills, Yasmine Al-Bustami, Jason Antoon, Tori Anderson and Kian Talan star. Matt Bosack, Jan Nash, Christopher Silber and Larry Teng serve as executive producers. NCIS: HAWAI`I is produced by CBS Studios. The series will return for season two.

About NCIS: LOS ANGELES

NCIS: LOS ANGELES is averaging 7.27 million viewers and is the top scripted program in its competitive time period Sunday at 10:00 PM. Season to date, it has amassed over 6 billion social media impressions. The show’s 300th episode will air Sunday, May 8. The series will return for season 14.

Chris O’Donnell, LL COOL J, Linda Hunt, Daniela Ruah, Eric Christian Olsen, Medalion Rahimi, Caleb Castille and Gerald McRaney star. R. Scott Gemmill, John P. Kousakis, Frank Military and Kyle Harimoto serve as executive producers. NCIS: LOS ANGELES is produced by CBS Studios.

In addition to CBS Studios producing NCIS, NCIS: HAWAI`I and NCIS: LOS ANGELES, as previously reported, the Studio is expanding globally and producing a local version of the brand for Australia, with NCIS: SYDNEY for Network 10 and Paramount+ Australia.

[densifangirl1]

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Repost: @dg251170 PROMO VIDEO for #ncisla season 12 episode 18 „A Tale of Two Igors” on May 23 (season finale) Deeks is kidnapped by an associate of Kirkin’s (Ravil Isyanov) in need of his help and NCIS investigates the shooting of a militarized dolphin equipped with a Russian microchip. Also, Beale makes Nell an interesting offer and Hetty returns, on the 12th season finale of NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Sunday, May 23 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. GUEST CAST: Gerald McRaney (Retired Navy Admiral Hollace Kilbride) Sandi Todorovic (Igor Kuznetsov) Sisa Grey (Dr. Jennifer Tuala) Denys Toliarenko (Taras) Luke Sholl (Henry) Michael Klesic (Igor Lebedev) Ravil Isyanov (Anatoli Kirkin) WRITTEN BY: Kyle Harimoto and R. Scott Gemmill DIRECTED BY: John P. Kousakis https://www.instagram.com/p/CO9d6nYDscC/?igshid=3lih17xhd1ji

[sspaz1000]

Anyone else catch this off of Kyle Harimoto's Insta Story? Looks like this is definitely going into S11.

[tooldtoship]

Watching the rerun of Kalinda and the conversation between Deeks and Nell about the trees, sounds like it came right out of one of @typingtess stories.  I wonder if Kyle Harimoto will be reading Tess’s new summer story, Comte? 

[tvtracker]

NCIS Los Angeles Episode 9.03 'Se Murio El Payaso' Press Release. THE NCIS TEAM TRACKS A COUNTERFEIT MONEY TRAIL AND SENDS SAM UNDERCOVER AS A FINANCIER OF ILLEGAL CURRENCY, ON “NCIS: LOS ANGELES,” SUNDAY, OCT. 15 Bar Paly Returns as Anastasia “Anna” Kolcheck “Se Murio El Payaso” – When the daughter of a notorious counterfeiter arrives in Los Angeles, Sam is sent undercover as a financier, while Callen partners with Anna (Bar Paley) to track the family’s latest scheme, on NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Sunday, Oct. 15 (9:30-10:30 PM, ET/9:00-10:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network. CHEAT TWEET: Sam is undercover & Callen partners with Anna (@barpaly) in a @NCISLA counterfeit $$ investigation #CBS 10/15 9:30pm http://bit.ly/2xvXuI9 REGULAR CAST: Chris O’Donnell (Special Agent G. Callen) LL COOL J (Special Agent Sam Hanna) Linda Hunt (Henrietta “Hetty” Lange) Daniela Ruah (Special Agent Kensi Blye) Eric Christian Olsen (LAPD Detective Marty Deeks) Barrett Foa (Tech Operator Eric Beale) Renée Felice Smith (Intelligence Analyst Nell Jones) Nia Long (Executive Assistant Director Shay Mosley) GUEST CAST: Bar Paly (Anastasia “Anna” Kolcheck) Marsha Thomason (Secret Service Special Agent Nicole DeChamps) Jeff Kober (Harris Keane) Fernanda Andrade (Lucila Marca/Claudia Diaz) Kip Pardue (Michael Silva) Steven Allerick (Tom Rhee) Long Nguyen (Dang) Nanrisa Lee (Secret Service Agent Tina Park) Natalie Ceballos (Tia) Natasha Hall (Heather) Neil Rodriquez (Luna) Duncan Campbell (NCIS Agent Castor) WRITTEN BY: Kyle Harimoto DIRECTED BY: Rick Tunell Source: CBS

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 14 Rewatch:  “Best Seller”

The basics:  A crime cartel goes after Sam’s friend Tom Olsen.

Written by: Kyle Harimoto wrote "Omni", "Merry Evasion", "Chernoff, K", "Command and Control" as episode 150, "Granger, O.", "Ghost Gun", "Kulinda", "767", "Se Murio El Payaso", "Assets"/"Liabilities", "Venganza", "Superhuman", "One of Us", "Let Fate Decide" (season 11 premiere), "Decoy", "Answers" , "Watch Over Me", "Cash Flow", "Fukushu", "Bonafides”, “Come Together” (season 13 finale) and “Of Value”.  He co-wrote "Three Hearts", "Leipei", "Humbug", both ends of the "Matryoshka" two-parter, "Smokescreen" part two, "Searching", "A Fait Acompli" and "A Tale of Two Igors" (season 12 finale).

Directed by: James Hanlon who directed "War Cries", "The Grey Man", "Kolcheck, A", "Driving Miss Diaz", "Command and Control" (number 150), "Angels and Daemons", "Where There’s Smoke", "Black Market", "Tidings We Bring", "Can I Get a Witness?", "Cac Tu Nhan", "A Diamond in the Rough", "Into the Breach", "Human Resources”, “Commitment Issues”, "The Nobel Maidens" and “Murmuration”.

Guest stars of note:  Erik Palladino as Special Deputy U.S. Marshal Vostanik Sabatino was back from season 13’s “Hard for the Money”; Bill Goldberg as DOJ Agent Lance Hamilton is back from season 13’s “Bonafides”; David Paul Olsen as Tom Olsen is back from season 11’s “Human Resources” where people were trying to kill him there too; Lesley Boone as Nina Barnes in back from the prior episode, “A Long Time Coming” crossover episode; Natalia Del Riego as Rosa Reyes is back from “Survival of the Fittest”; Duncan Campbell as NCIS Special Agent Castor is back from “Blood Bank”; Gianni DeCenzo as Luke Austin; Eddie Kaulukukui as Army Col. Tuivasa; Daya Vaidya as Marina and Katrina Begin as Lauren Olsen.

Our heroes:  Save Sam’s buddy.

What important things did we learn about: Callen:  On loan to a joint taskforce out of town for an undercover sting operation. Sam:   See Callen. Kensi:  Missing out on a girls only weekend with Rosa. Deeks:   See Sam. Fatima:   No Daddy Issues. Rountree:   Keeps full outfits in work desk drawers. Kilbride:  Unknown to those in the “Twitter-Tok universe”.

What not so important things did we learn about: Callen:  Absent. Sam:  Absent. Kensi:   A fan of Tom Olsen’s novels. Deeks:    Absent. Fatima:   Introducing Rountree to a veterinarian not a vegetarian.  Rountree:   Shorts for brunch is an interesting fashion choice. Kilbride:  Surprised a SEAL would do publicity for a book.

Where in the world is Henrietta Lange?  Not a mention.

Who's down with OTP:  Happy in life Kensi was looking for the same for Lance.  Lance, not looking. 

Who's down with BrOTP:  At the very end, Sabatino passes Fatima a beer and without making a big deal of it, Rountree quietly passes her a mineral water.  Nice taking care of your partner.

Fashion review:  Kensi wore a long-sleeve blue sweatshirt with a white vertical stripe running down the sleeves.  In the field, she had on a grey long-sleeve henley.  Fatima jogs into the episode in black running gear. She wears a long-sleeve, dark blue sweater for the rest of the episode.   Rountree starts the episode in brunch gear that honestly looks like men’s medium blue summer pajamas.  They’re shorts.  At the office, he changes into a long sleeve, dark red tee-shirt and jeans.  Kilbride wore his Kilbride uniform – dark blue suit, pale blue dress shirt

Music:  No music today.

Any notable cut scene:  Not today.

Quote:  Nina:  "All right, get out here." Sabatino leaves the food truck:  “I mean, man, those, those are great in there, huh?” Nina:  “Oh, thanks.  I was wondering why people were lining up and giving me money for them.  Mystery solved!”

They needed to find Nina a few seasons ago.

Anything else:  Sam’s buddy Tom Olsen is bow and arrow hunting in the mountains.  There are animals around.  He takes a shot and gets his deer.  As he tries to retrieve the animal in a valley, a coyote makes an odd noise and moves away.  Suddenly from the top of a hill, a man opens fire on Olsen.  Olsen uses his trusty bow and arrow to stop that but a second gunman starts to fire.  Taking a bullet to the shoulder, Olsen pulls out his own gun and makes quick work of the second gunman.  Leaving his backpack behind, Olsen takes his bow, arrows and gun as he moved deeper into the valley.  Four more gunmen come from the top of a hill and start to track Olsen.

Fatima is jogging back home when Rountree gets out of an Uber.  She’s dressed to work out, he’s dressed for brunch.  Fatima, Rountree and a veterinarian pal of Fatima’s have brunch plans but that’s tomorrow, not today.  And that’s a good thing since they hear from Kilbride.

Walking into the boat shed, Kensi is apologizing to Rosa.  With Deeks out of town, it was supposed to be a weekend of food, movies and fun for the two but now Kensi has to work.  Rosa is fine with Kensi working – it isn’t Kensi’s fault.  Kensi asks if Rosa is okay going to the beach with her friends before realizing how silly that question was.  Kensi gives Rosa an EDC bag that includes a knife, first aid kit and a lot of things a teenage girl probably doesn’t need for the beach.  As she’s leaving for the beach, Rosa asks Kensi if they could get a raincheck for the day.  Kensi is so happy Rosa asked.

Fatima and shorts-wearing Rountree arrive at the office.  He pulls out clothes from his desk drawer – he keeps a change of clothing everywhere after “the Speedo incident”.  As he changes, Rountree asks about the veterinarian, who is a comedy club fan but isn’t really funny.  Asking about hobbies, Rountree is told the veterinarian loves magic.  Wondering why Fatima thought they’d be a pair, Rountree is shown a video of the veterinarian.  Suddenly, he’s a magic fan.

Lance Hamilton joins Kensi in the boat shed.  She explains that Callen, Sam and Deeks are on loan to a joint task force for an undercover sting operation.  It is Kensi and Lance today – which the last time the two were paired up, he had to go to the hospital.  He just remembers the sushi.

On the plasma screen, the Admiral welcomes Lance to the team for the day.  Rountree starts the case review.  A park ranger found two men dead with assault rifles in their hands in South Valley, Utah.  It is privately owned land.  Worried about the owner, the park ranger went to Weber Yamada’s cabin and found Yamada dead.  In the cabin, there were personal items belonging to Tom Olsen.  The shooters were looking for Olsen but he took out the shooters. 

Lance explains DOJ put him on the case because they want to know why two men are shooting a former SEAL.  The dead men are not on any  DOJ databases.  Kensi mentions Olsen’s writing career taking off and while he has a large social media presence, there haven’t been any threats according to his publisher.  Fatima heard from other park rangers – there are multiple boot prints following Olsen.  He is not safe.

Kilbride gives some background on Olsen – former SEAL who worked in the CIA with Vostanik Sabatino.  The Admiral wants Fatima to work with Sabatino while Kensi and Lance go to Utah to find out what is going on.  If Tom Olsen “is on the right side of this”, Kilbride wants him brought in safely. 

Kensi goes to a switch on the wall and shows the funding upgrades the Admiral got for the boat shed.  An armory comes from the ceiling.  Lance jokes that it is where Deeks keeps his haircare products.  Kensi thinks he’s jealous.  The two each grab a backpack and prepare for their trip to Utah.  Kensi wants to ID the dead men.  Lance is more worried about Olsen not being “on the right side of this.”  If he’s not, they’ll have to arrest him.

Sabatino is looking at the Porsche as Fatima leaves the office.  He scoffs at the car – what kind of man owns a vehicle like that.  Fatima asks what if it is a woman.  He scoffs more – obviously a woman with Daddy Issues.  Fatima tells him to get in, she’s driving.  Sabatino says he loves the color, Fatima says she loves her Daddy, no issues.   And they’re off.

On the plane to Utah, Kensi talks about having an “instant teenager” with Lance.  Kensi noticed Lance mentioned “we drove down to Austin” so is “we” a possible girlfriend.  No, just his dog Francis.  It was Jessica’s decision to name the dog Francis, Lance preferred “Zeus”.  Jessica thought it was pedestrian and obvious.  Kensi thinks she would have liked Jessica.  Lance agrees.  Francis, by the way, is a rottweiler.   Kensi starts to ask Lance about dating again but he mentions that he can’t see himself dating another woman.  He’s sad.  So is Kensi.

On a video call, the Admiral talks to Col. Tuivasa, Tom Olsen’s former commanding officer, about his new career.  Nobody at SOCOM on JSOC had problems with “Lt. Olsen’s works of fiction.”  In fact, the members of the military are some of his biggest fans.  Reviewing his work with the SEALs, they can’t find any obvious reason there would be a hit on him but everyone is checking to make sure.  With a career in the SEALs and CIA, Olsen likely had enemies.  Kilbride remembers a time when SEALs would keep a low-profile returning to the civilian live.  Tuivasa tells him “Things are a little different these days.”  Besides, there is nothing wrong with making a good living once out of the service.  Kilbride agrees but is proud that nobody in “the Twitter-Tock universe knows who the hell I am.”

In the boat shed, Castor introduces Fatima and Sabatino to Lauren Olsen, Tom’s wife.  Castor brought her to be boat shed.  After the introductions, Fatima tries to reassure Lauren they believe her husband is alive but it is not needed – Lauren is sure he’s alive.  When Fatima asks how, Sabatino tells Fatima that Lauren knows what her husband is capable of.  Lauren explains he is comfortable in the South Valley in Utah – he has homefield advantage.  Fatima asks about security concerns since the career change.  Lauren things they are blessed, Olsen loves to write and now is getting paid for it.  He loves to write but not do any of the publicity around selling a book but they both understand that’s now how publishing works.  While Olsen wasn’t worried that someone would come after him, he was worried about Lauren and Robbie, their son.  Fatima arranges a safehouse for Lauren and Robbie.

Back in Ops, there are no threats against Olsen from the SEALs, the CIA or the publishing world.  That changes the investigation from the why, why are people after Olsen, to the who – who are the people after him.  The Admiral wants to know everything about the shooters.  Rountree found IDs for the two men but the IDs go back to men who have been dead for five years.  The Admiral wants them tracked down.

Kensi fangirls to Lance about Olsen’s books.  His hero is a normal man – he gets hurt, he gets scared.  She’s read them all and recommends them to Lance.  Lance is a “wait for the movie” kind of guy, which doesn’t surprise Kensi.  Reading from her satellite phone, Olsen’s footprints disappeared about 20-yards from the shooting location.  He disappeared.  That makes sense to Kensi since Darren McCall was trained by the best tracker in Colorado.  Lance asks about Darren McCall and learns that’s the hero in Olsen’s books.  She thinks that the detail and expertise that appears in the books are the same expertise Olsen has.  With four against Olsen, he is in for a hell of a fight – so are Kensi and Lance.

As Fatima makes tea, Sabatino complains about the year 2009 magazines in the boat shed.  Fatima likes 2009, it was the year she got her drivers license.  “Oh geez, I have jeans as old as you,” Sabatino replies.  Fatima congratulates him – they’re coming back into fashion.  Castor arrives with a woman named Marina, but he didn’t get her last name.  She didn’t offer it, Marina says.  Sabatino jumps up from the couch – he and Marina go way back.  He hugs her and she throws him to the ground.  Revenge for Kyoto.  Fatima asks Sabatino if anyone likes him.  The best he can come up with is his third wife. 

Marina worked with Olsen, and “this moron” meaning Sabatino who is still trying to stand, at the CIA.  She learned that there was a threat against Olsen at a book signing about a month ago but security diverted the threat before Olsen arrived.  He likely never knew.  The threat was a man named Austin.  Finally off the floor, Sabatino teases Marina that she misses him.

Rountree arrives in Kilbride’s office with some updates.  Kensi and Lance landed in Utah.  The threat at Olsen’s book signing was a man named Luke Austin.  Austin is in LA with four handguns and an AR-15.  He’s big on guns and motorcycle clubs even though he doesn’t have a motorcycle license.  Fatima and Sabatino are going to check out Austin.  The Admiral is concerned that maybe some bikers have an issue with Olsen.  He also wants to talk to Olsen’s publisher – Kelsey Shore.  She lied to him about the threats against Olsen.

Kensi tells Lance that they found Olsen’s backpack full of deer meat but nothing else.  The two guns used in the attack against Olsen had no numbers – they’re ghost guns and untraceable.  Lance figures out the attack on Olsen based on what he left behind.

Waiting for Austin by his work, Fatima asks Sabatino what gives – everyone in the office says Sabatino talks all the time and Kensi finds him “straight up hilarious”.  But he won’t talk to Fatima.  Sabatino said that he was like that as a younger man but he’s different now.  Fatima rolls her eyes and leaves the car.  Sabatino follows her, explaining that it isn’t Fatima but it is everyone her age.  They’re all so serious.  If he said something funny, she might get offended and then he’d get “that call.”  Then, the NCIS HR lady with the one good eye calls him and tells him the joke is going into his personnel file.  Fatima argues her generation has a sense of humor. 

Tracking through Utah, Kensi remembers that Darren McCall would follow his own tracks to change direction.  Kensi walks back a few steps and finds blood on a large stone.  A test on the blood comes back as B-Negative, Olsen’s type and rare blood type to boot.

Fatima and Sabatino approach Luke Austin, who is a bit nerdish.  When they mention Tom Olsen, Austin freaks out about the rent-a-cops at the book signing.  Austin is unhappy about the treatment of the Andre Gane character in “On My Six” – the character was killed off despite being the moral compass of the entire series.  Sabatino makes sure Austin didn’t want to hurt Olsen.  Austin says look at me – could he really hurt Olsen?  Asked about the guns, Austin is a fan of guns.  Asked if he’s left the state in the last five-days, Austin confesses he hasn’t left Orange County in the last five-years.  He also has issues with millennials who identify with specific houses in “Harry Potter”.  Fatima is offended. 

Kensi and Lance come across another failed assassin.  This one also has been shot by a bow and arrow but is impaled on a fallen tree limb.  Kensi thinks Olsen saw the gunman sitting in a tree waiting for him to come by.  Olsen got him first.  The dead man’s walkie-talkie goes off with someone speaking in Portuguese with a Brazilian accent.  Lance is surprised Kensi speaks Portuguese.  She answers in the language.  The walkie-talkie goes off again.  The man on the other side is angry, they want to find and kill Olsen so they can all go home.   The walkie-talkie reports that the three remaining hitmen found Olsen and are moving in on him.

The Admiral is reading the riot act to Olsen’s publisher.  She did not believe the threats were “relevant” to the investigation.  He calls her a moron.  Rountree arrives to hear the Admiral complain that New York publishing executives are worse than Hollywood executives.  “Good to know, sir,” is all Rountree has for that comment.  Rountree found one of the shooters passed through a small entry station between Mexico and California a few days ago.  Reviewing video of everyone – and that meant old people, families with kid – that passed, five men with a similar profile passed through the entry station.  They are all young, fit, with no luggage.  Their names trace back to people who died in the last few years.  “Someone with means is funding this.”  The Admiral wants to hear from Nina Barnes – she’d know who could get those style weapons, the ghost guns, to the gunmen.  Rountree is a fan of the red velvet cupcakes.  He started following her on Instagram and shows it to the Admiral.   Nina has a food truck and updates her offerings daily with a video.  “I feel a deep sense of embarrassment for Nina.”  Fatima and Sabatino are on their way.

As one of the gunmen comes close to Kensi and Lance, she signals for Lance to “choke him out”.  Lance doesn’t understand.  He picks up the gunman and drives the man into the ground.  There are now just two gunmen left.

There is a long line of cupcake fans but Fatima and Sabatino have to take Nina Barnes away from her cupcake food truck.  With her foot in a boot – a spelunking accident – Barnes thinks she should be in a better place with Kilbride.  Looking at Sabatino, she asks “what are you”, wanting to know his background.  He claims Italian but she disagrees – Armenian.  On his mother’s side.  They ask about the ghost guns and the shooters being from Brazil.  Fatima takes over the cake truck with Sabatino ‘s help as Barnes makes some phone calls.

A gunman starts walking toward Kensi and Lance before collapsing with an arrow in his back.  “It’s about damn time the cavalry arrived,” Tom Olsen tells Kensi and Lance.  Tom is bleeding from his shoulder.  Kensi introduces Lance.  Olsen notes that they are making DOJ agents bigger than they use to.  As she tends to his wound, Kensi asks about Tom’s cane.  After four years of physical therapy with a team of professionals, he’s finally walking without it.  Kensi is impressed.  Olsen isn’t – he and the physical therapists will all be back together as they try to heal his arm.  With one gunman left, Olsen doesn’t think it is a far fight for the would be killer.  Lance gives Olsen a mix of water and electrolytes to drink.

Sabatino is impressed by the cupcakes.  Barnes was wondering why people were lined up to give her money for them – “mystery solved.”  This program needed her after season six.  The ghost guns were sold by a rival to Barnes’s contact.  Ten ghost gun rifles and survival packs were supplied.  There are four more assassins out there.  They also have an Airpeek Professional Drone with a five-pound payload.  It is carrying C-4.  Everything was delivered to a ranch – Barnes sent the details to Kilbride.  As Sabatino walks away, he asks for a cupcake and gets one – just one.

Ronaldo Campos is running the ranch.  While most of it is classified, Kilbride tells Rountree that SOCOM said Campos is in the kidnapping business.   A SEAL team killed Campos’s brother seven-years ago when they were rescuing a kidnapped executive.  Olsen was a SEAL seven-years ago.  SOCOM is investigating how Ronaldo Campos learned about the SEALs involvement.  Fatima, Sabatino and Rountree are being brought to the ranch by a helicopter to capture Campos and find who is controlling the drone.

Kensi, Lance and Olsen are going to a rescue site to be flown out of the valley.  As they move on, a drone is following them.  With a helicopter five minutes out from their rescue site, Olsen thinks he’s two-hours away from a nice ribeye.  If Olsen makes it three ribeyes, Lance will bring the tequila.  As they wait, a series of gunmen come out of nowhere and open fire. 

Fatima and Sabatino take out the two guards watching the ranch.  Rountree gets a look inside the house.  There are two guards and a drone pilot in the middle of the room.  Rountree drops a flash-bang into the room. Fatima and Sabatino fight with the two guards in the room but the drone pilot runs away.  Rountree is following him.

While the gunshots keep coming, Kensi is trying to figure out a way to get them to safety. 

Rountree tackles the drone pilot, tossing the drone controls to Fatima.

Kensi opens fire on the bad guys but runs out ammo.  Tom is out of ammo too.  Kensi sees the drone coming and is trying to get a shot off with a different weapon.  The drone makes a sudden turn and blows up around the killers.  One survives with Lance taking him into custody.

Arriving back at the office, Fatima and Rountree listen to Sabatino complain about the helicopter ride.  Sabatino brings Greek-Armenian food and passes out some beers.  When Rountree hands Fatima some mineral water, Sabatino asks if that’s a health thing or a Muslim thing.  She mentions HR and he laughs.  Rountree is going to go with her to HR.  Sabatino doesn’t know if they are serious or not.

No ribeyes on the plane, just some boxed sandwiches and salads.  Olsen toasts his friend Webby Yamada, “a good dude.”  Sad, Olsen says that all Yamada did was invite him to hunt on his land, he didn’t deserve what happened.  The book publicity put Olsen on the Campos’s radar.  SOCOM is looking to see who leaked the information about Olsen.  Campos is in custody – he’ll never be a free man. 

The Admiral calls with kind words for Kensi, Lance and Olsen.  Kilbride turns the phone over to Rosa.  Kensi apologizes for being out of touch.  Rosa had a great day bodysurfing.  She and the Admiral are having pizza until Kensi comes back to LA.  Kensi tries to thank the Admiral, it means the world to her.  “Why must everything be about you Agent Blye?”

There is a card at the end with a photo of longtime series director Terrence O’Hara, who passed away during the season.  “Our brother, our teach, our friend.”

What head canon can be formed from here:    A good episode with limited resources.  Early in the program’s run, there was a need for outside characters.  Sabatino and Hamilton provided that while everyone else was wrapping up the crossover episodes.  Throw in Nina Barnes and while Sam not being around to rescue his buddy Tom was noticeable, the people around to help were up to the job.

While she had just one scene, Lauren Olsen was exactly the wife Tom Olsen would have – Sabatino nailed that.  She knew her husband would stay alive until he could get to help or help could get to him.

Nice callback to “Let It Burn” with “the Speedo incident” for Rountree.   Nice callback to “Decoy” in season 11 to the sushi with Lance for Kensi.    Nina Barnes’s red velvet cupcakes brought to the office by Kilbride got a mention for the second consecutive episode.  Those must be great cupcakes.

The cool armory from the ceiling, like the back deck of the boat shed, should have been in the program for several years. 

Lovely tribute at the end to Terrence O’Hara.  O’Hara directed 29-episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles, 56 episodes of the mothership and four-episodes of NCIS: New Orleans.  He also directed an X-Files episode, my first fandom.

Episode number:   This is the 11th episode of season 14, the 313th episode overall.

[ncisladaily]

WHEN SAM’S FRIEND IS HUNTED DOWN BY ENEMIES FROM HIS PAST, THE NCIS TEAM MUST FIND OUT WHO’S AFTER HIM, ON “NCIS: LOS ANGELES,” SUNDAY, JAN. 15

“Best Seller” – When Sam’s friend Tom Olsen finds himself being hunted down by enemies from his past, the NCIS team must find out who is after him, on the CBS Original series NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Sunday, Jan. 15 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

REGULAR CAST:

Chris O’Donnell

(Special Agent G. Callen)

LL COOL J

(Special Agent Sam Hanna)

Linda Hunt

(Operations Manager Henrietta “Hetty” Lange)

Daniela Ruah

(Special Agent Kensi Blye)

Eric Christian Olsen

(NCIS Investigator Marty Deeks)

Medalion Rahimi

(Special Agent Fatima Namazi)

Caleb Castille

(Special Agent Devin Rountree)

Gerald McRaney

(Retired Admiral Hollace Kilbride)

GUEST CAST:

Erik Palladino

(Special Deputy U.S. Marshal Vostanik Sabatino)

Bill Goldberg

(DOJ Agent Lance Hamilton)

David Paul Olsen

(Tom Olsen)

Lesley Boone

(Nina Barnes)

Natalia Del Riego

(Rosa Reyes)

Gianni DeCenzo

(Luke Austin)

Eddie Kaulukukui

Daya Vaidya

Katrina Begin

Duncan Campbell

(Army Col. Tuivasa)

(Marina)

(Lauren Olsen)

(NCIS Special Agent Castor)

WRITTEN BY: Kyle Harimoto

DIRECTED BY: James Hanlon

[blogger360ncislarules]

THE BODY OF A MURDERED NAVY RESERVIST IS FOUND BY THIEVES IN THE MIDST OF A ROBBERY, AND NCIS MUST WORK WITH THE BURGLARS TO FIND THE KILLER, ON “NCIS: LOS ANGELES,” SUNDAY, DEC. 6, AT A SPECIAL TIME “Cash Flow” – The body of a murdered Navy reservist is found by thieves in the midst of a robbery and NCIS must work with the burglars to find the killer. Also, Kensi and Deeks struggle to decide if they are ready to make the leap and buy a house, at a special time on NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Sunday, Dec. 6 (9:30-10:30 PM, ET/9:00-10:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network. REGULAR CAST: Chris O’Donnell (Special Agent G. Callen) LL COOL J (Special Agent Sam Hanna) Linda Hunt (Operations Manager Henrietta “Hetty” Lange) Daniela Ruah (Special Agent Kensi Blye) Eric Christian Olsen (LAPD Detective Marty Deeks) Barrett Foa (Tech Operator Eric Beale) Renée Felice Smith (Intelligence Analyst Nell Jones) Medalion Rahimi (Special Agent Fatima Namazi) Caleb Castille (Special Agent Devin Rountree) GUEST CAST: Bar Paly (Anastasia “Anna” Kolcheck) Marsha Thomason (NCIS Special Agent Nicole DeChamps) Rachelle Chung (Ashley Liao) Kara Royster (Jojo Ballard) René Alvarado (Lincoln Benavidez) Philip Bolden (Marcus Babu) Shelli Boone (Claudia Lazzez) Mauricio Mendoza (Jorge) Mark Jacobson (Colin) WRITTEN BY: Kyle Harimoto DIRECTED BY: Yangzom Brauen

[mashmaiden]

Fatima and Jen Kim (and just taking a wild guess, Kyle Harimoto, writer of both episodes with said mentions) have a jones for the same pizza place - Mulberry’s. 

[tooldtoship]

My “767″ Thoughts

I started watching about 13 minutes into the show, because I couldn’t stand to wait.  So I’ll be reading @typingtess‘s writeup in a moment and will be watching it as soon as I get home tomorrow.  I don’t have a lot to say, maybe I’ll write more tomorrow, but it was another great episode.  Loved the Tiffany’s and Kat’s coming and Deeks shouting LAPD.  Also, I might be the only one, but I loved the ending with Hetty.  Thank you to Kyle Harimoto and Benny Boom and of course my favs, Scott Gemmill & JPK.  Now I’m going to go read what Tess and everyone else wrote to try and figure out what the story was about.

Did i mention that the parts I watched were all competent, great banter, action and everything I could want from NCIS: LA.

[tvtracker]

NCIS:LA Episode 9.02 'Assets' Press Release. THE NCIS TEAM INVESTIGATES THE MURDER OF A NAVY LIEUTENANT WHO SPECIALIZED IN MONITORING CLASSIFIED INTEL, ON “NCIS: LOS ANGELES,” SUNDAY, OCT. 8 “Assets” – During the murder investigation of a Navy Lieutenant on leave in Los Angeles, the NCIS team uncovers classified surveillance briefs she smuggled into the city that may have been sold to a foreign buyer, on NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Sunday, Oct. 8 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. CHEAT TWEET: .@NCISLA investigates a murder tied to highly classified surveillance docs 10/8 9:00pm http://bit.ly/2h4f3Lb REGULAR CAST: Chris O’Donnell (Special Agent G. Callen) LL COOL J (Special Agent Sam Hanna) Linda Hunt (Henrietta “Hetty” Lange) Daniela Ruah (Special Agent Kensi Blye) Eric Christian Olsen (LAPD Detective Marty Deeks) Barrett Foa (Tech Operator Eric Beale) Renée Felice Smith (Intelligence Analyst Nell Jones) Nia Long (Executive Assistant Director Shay Mosley) RECURRING CAST: Andrea Bordeaux (NCIS Special Agent Harley Hidoko) GUEST CAST: Matthew Atkinson (Keith Stiger) Julie McNiven (Lynn Stiger) Ken Garito (Navy Intelligence Officer Frank Peralta) Stephen Oyoung (Navy Commander James Miyazaki) David Cade (Ryan) Erin Breen (Navy Lieutenant Naomi Elder) Duncan Campbell (NCIS Agent Castor) David Paul Olsen (Tom Olsen) WRITTEN BY: Kyle Harimoto DIRECTED BY: Tawnia McKiernan Source: CBS

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 14 Rewatch:    “Body Stitchers”

The basics:  Alleged artists and confirmed killers the Body Stitchers are back.

Written by:  Adam G. Key & Frank Military

Adam George Key co-wrote "Monster" with Frank Military, "Searching" with Kyle Harimoto and “Land of Wolves” with Justin Kohlas.  Key also played LAPD Officer Harrison in four episodes in seasons 11 and 12.

Military wrote or co-wrote "Little Angels", "Deliverance", "Lockup", "The Job", "Greed", "Betrayal", "Crimeleon", "Vengeance", "Out of the Past" Part One, "Rude Awakenings" Part Two, season four’s finale "Descent", season five’s premiere "Ascension", "Allegiance", "Spoils of War", "Black Budget", "SEAL Hunter", "Rage", "Unspoken", "Unlocked Mind", "Revenge Deferred", "The Seventh Child", "Crazy Train", "Uncaged", "The Silo", "Monster", "Line in the Sand", season ten opener "To Live and Die in Mexico", "The Patton Project", "Better Angels", "False Flag", "A Bloody Brilliant Plan", "Code of Conduct" "Raising the Dead", "Through the Looking Glass", "Indentured" and “Down the Rabbit Hole”. 

He also appeared as Donald Kessler in "Raising the Dead" and several other episodes in photos.

Directed by:  Suzanne Saltz directed "Outside the Lines", "Murder of Crows", "Sundown" and “MWD”.

Guest stars of note:  Alicia Coppola as FBI Senior Special Agent Lisa Rand, Rob Nagle as Albert “Al” Barrington/Plague Doctor, Tobias Jelinek as Bobby Griffin/Wolf, Matt Kelly as Justin Tucker/Clown are all back from “Monster” - that delightful Easter Sunday season nine episode.  Teya Patt as Cindy Ferguson/Faceless Mask replaces Kerrie Blaisdell who played this role in “Monster”.  Richard Gant as Raymond Hanna is back from “Game of Drones”.  JD Cullum as FBI Forensic Psychologist Mark Collins, Derrick A. King as Michael Jeffries, Adrian Elizondo as Philip Guerrero and Antony Del Rio as Alexander Hughes.

Our heroes:  Try, try, try again.

What important things did we learn about:

Callen:  Away on assignment – he always misses these wacky Body Stitchers. Sam:  Pulled away from the case for a terrorist threat in San Pedro. Kensi:  Not thrilled to be dealing with Cindy Ferguson again.    Deeks:   Not thrilled by any of this. Fatima:   Working late. Rountree:   Heard about the Body Stitchers case in the Academy. Kilbride:  Wants the team to stop whining about losing the bad guys the first time and get them this time.

What not so important things did we learn about:

Callen:   Absent. Sam:   Cleaning up after Arkady in Sam’s own backyard. Kensi:    Working with Agent Rand for a lot of the episode. Deeks:   Working with Sam for a lot of the episode. Fatima:   In charge of freeing the Body Stitchers almost victim. Rountree:  Catches a Body Stitcher on his own. Kilbride:  Warns the team that they can help on this case as long as NCIS doesn’t need them.

Where in the world is Henrietta Lange?  No mention today.

Who's down with OTP:   Not a lot of OTP time today.

Who's down with BrOTP:  Not a BrOTP episode either.

Fashion review:   Black, long-sleeve tee for Sam.  Kensi has on a wine-colored long-sleeve v-neck tee.  Deeks wears a very pale blue/nearly grey henley.  Fatima is wearing a purple turtleneck.  Rountree has on a charcoal grey pullover sweater under a denim jacket with a leather collar.  Admiral Kilbride is in his usual three-piece suit with a pale blue dress shirt and a blue tie with a darker blue paisley tie.   

Music:   “Gravy Train” by Lettuce is playing while Raymond is having breakfast.

Any notable cut scene:   None today.

Quote:  Sam:  “I'm just a government employee.  Explain it to me.” Ferguson:  “He's a great master, like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Renoir.  These humans who changed the world with their imagination and a pencil.” Sam:  “So Vincent is a master artist?” Ferguson:  “Yeah, Vincent, like Vincent van Gogh.  Uh... You know?” (mimics cutting her ear) Sam:  “Yeah.” Ferguson:  “He's the great master behind the bodies.  It's his vision.  We're just his apprentices, learning the art.” Sam:  “The art of sewing bodies together?” Ferguson:  “God. Isn't it beautiful?”

Anything else:    Lots of previously-s from “Monster”.  And the weirdos are back doing weirdo things.  This time with extra self-importance.

Raymond is having breakfast, listening to tunes when Sam walks in with a cigar butt.  Raymond feigns ignorance but there are four others in the backyard.  Raymond starts to call Callen – obviously an investigation must be started.  When told Callen is out of town, Raymond suggests bumping it up to the SecNav.  Seems the cigars don’t belong to Raymond – he doesn’t smoke.  But Arkady does.  Raymond made a friend not to Sam’s liking.  The family fun is interrupted by a call – Sam’s being called to the office.  Leaving, Sam bars Arkady from the house.

Rountree is waiting as Kensi walks into the office.  Agent Rand from the FBI called.  Kensi speaks highly of Rand and asks why Rand called.  Rountree tells her about the “legendary” case while he was in the Academy about killers who make Frankenstein monsters out of their victims.  There was scuttlebutt Rountree heard about another agency being involved in the case.  Kensi said they were all in a dark place after the case.

Up in Ops, Kensi and Rountree join Deeks and Fatima.  Agent Rand is on the big screen.  In a different Zoom box is Special Agent Zachary Collins from the BAU.  The FBI heard the group is back in LA.  Rand sends Fatima some pictures from a the “Body Stitchers” last crime scene.  It freaks Fatima out a little and Rand apologizes. 

Rountree asks for a motive.  Collins explains the killers think they are creating some kind of art and make money selling the event as art on the dark web.  The money gives the killers the freedom to move around largely undetected.  Collins thinks the motive is also sexual – the killers meshed violence and sex together as young people and are acting on it. 

The Body Stitchers have been seen in the US, Central and South America.  The FBI has gotten close several times but just missed.  Deeks asks why.  Collins tells the group – including an arriving Admiral Kilbride that the killers aren’t stupid.  They set up, do their thing and move on.  They avoid common ports of entry and regularly purchase new identities on the dark web.

The Admiral puts his foot down – this is not a military related action, the OSP’s involvement will be limited.  If NCIS needs the team or a team member, they’re out of the case.  Rand is fine with that – the OSP is the only agency ever to interact with the killers.  As advisors or part of the task force, the FBI wants NCIS to offer whatever they can.  Kensi tells the Admiral the case is unfinished business for the team.  No, it is unfinished business for the FBI, he replies.  Deeks brings up Lt. Commander Weir but Lt. Commander Weir was a random crime victim and not killed because of his service.  Kensi brings up how he was killed and the Admiral relents – NCIS will be mildly involved.  Rand is grateful. 

Sam, Kensi and Deeks arrive at the crime scene.  Rand is there with the dead guy and Collins from BAU.  Collins introduces himself as Mark Collins which is weird since he was Zachary Collins about five minutes ago.  Sam asks when did the FBI figure out the killers were back in LA.  Rand explains a woman named Staci Campbell was murdered.  Suspect Michael Jeffries got a text with photo of all the body parts used to sew the “art” together.  Sam notices freezer burn on the dead people’s shoulder.  That makes sense to Collins – if they don’t have enough parts to sew together, the killers have to preserve the parts they do have.

Kensi asks about Jeffries, who is in custody but there isn’t much to hold him.  He’ll likely be cut lose in a few hours since a judge turned down their warrant request to search Jeffries’s apartment.  He was only seen with the dead woman a few hours before her death – that’s not enough.  Sam, Deeks and Collins are off to interview Jeffries, Kensi and Rand are teaming up.

Just after the men leave, a young female FBI agent has something to show Kensi and Rand.  There was a locked room, now opened.  Inside are a lot of dead bodies.

While Collins is interviewing Jeffries in interrogation, Sam is in the main room of the boatshed talking about how the four people in the case lied right to his face.  They killed people and sewed them back together.  “And we had them.”   The Admiral arrives and wants Sam to stop “wallowing in the fact that you missed something” and tell him what Sam learned.

Sam said the killers knew exactly how to manipulate the investigation.  Deeks chimes in that the killings themselves, the planning, the execution – “the intelligence was off the charts.”  They did not present themselves as smart.  Collins joins the group.  Jeffries knows the FBI and NCIS have nothing so he’s going to be released soon.  Sam asks about Jeffries, who doesn’t really work, just short-sells stock online.  He has no connection to the killers, just lives in the same building as murder victim Staci Campbell.

Fatima pops up on the plasma to connect Kensi and Rand.  The only person to see Campbell and Jeffries together is the super in their share apartment building.  They are going over to interview the super now. 

The Admiral tells Sam and Deeks to remember who they are, put the past in the past and “get this thing done.” 

In interview, Deeks just stares across the table at Jeffries while Sam sits near the door.  Jeffries is about to speak when Sam tells him to “hold that thought.”  Deeks talks about the smell of the sea around them, the ocean breeze and how these things hide a cold, hard truth.  Jeffries tells them he did not kill Campbell.  They were neighbors but he never touched her.

That’s not the truth, Sam tells Jeffries.  Deeks explains that Jeffries is surrounded by frustrated and angry agents from several government agencies.  “We’re hungry and you’re the only thing on the menu,” Sam says.  Jeffries is keeping up – the kitchen is closed, he didn’t kill Campbell.  Deeks brings up his connection to the killers, killers who executed a member of the US Navy.  That’s federal lock-up. 

Sam pushes the idea that they have proof that Jeffries has provided financial assistance to the killers.  Jeffries admits he’s a fan – “people love true crime and serial killers.”   He though the body parts came from grave robberies or morgues.  He didn’t think they were being killed for the art.

Outside Jeffries’s apartment building, Kensi and Rand approach Phillip Guerrero, the super.  He’s trimming some hedges in the building’s courtyard.  He liked Campbell, “good tenant, nice girl.”  Guerrero saw Campbell and Jeffries walk into the courtyard.  They were chatting about food delivery people leaving too many menus by the mailbox area.  As the conversation goes on, Guerrero brings up “Mrs. Jeffries”.  Rand thinks wife but it actually Jeffries’s mother.  She’s in bad health – an invalid after a partial stroke a month ago.  Guerrero drops off food deliveries from time to time – he likes her.

There is no response from Mrs. Jeffries after they knock on the door.   Guerrero lets himself in to see if she’s OK.  While he’s looking around, Kensi checks in with Rountree.  He’s trying to chase the killer’s money but it all leads to offshore accounts which are dead ends.  As Rountree finishes, Guerrero runs from the apartment, horrified and unable to breathe.  Kensi and Rand enter the apartment.  They find Mrs. Jeffries in the bathtub.  Kensi and Rand flee the premises when they get a whiff of sulfuric acid fumes.

Outside, Kensi provides the team an update.  The building has been evacuated due to the health concerns around sulfuric acid.  Guerrero breathed in too much and is getting treated.  Kensi assures everyone she and Rand ran out as soon as they understood what was in the air.  Collins notes that sulfuric acid is easy to find so tracing its purchase will be tough.  This fact annoys Sam. 

A titanium knee pretty much identifies the woman in the bathtub as Mrs. Jeffries.  Collins offers the idea that Jeffries killed her because she had incriminating info on her son.  This doesn’t work for Rand.  Based on the lack of damage to the bathtub, Mrs. Jeffries is likely dead only 12-hours.  Jeffries has been in custody for over a day.

Sam, Deeks and Collins ask Jeffries about his mother, why he didn’t mention an older, sick woman alone in his apartment while he was in custody.  Sam tells Jeffries his mother is dead and he seems genuinely surprised. 

Jeffries blames Collins for his mother’s death.  The killers would know the Feds were in town while they were planning their show.  He had a ticket to go but couldn’t because he was in custody.  The killer thought he was selling them out and since they couldn’t kill him, they killed his mother as a message.  Collins thinks Jeffries’s mother knew he killed Campbell and he paid someone to kill his mother.  Jeffries is willing to trade info on the dark web he has about the show for witness protection.

Rountree gets to the Body Stitchers’s website on the dark web.  It’s been cleaned out but they access to the e-mail server and will be able to track the killers to their next website.  Kensi calls in with Rand.  Mrs. Jeffries right hand was sawed off before she was put in the acid bath. 

Fatima found the new website with a new live video going out shortly.  Everything is password protected but she’s working her way in.  In the live stream, everything is set up but nobody is there.  The stream is coming from an abandoned movie theater in Woodland Hills. 

As the team is about to leave, a terrorist warning come in based on an OSP case in San Pedro.  The Admiral has to send something to deal with San Pedro since it is an NCIS priority.  Sam goes.  Deeks and Collins are off to Woodland Hills. 

Kensi, Deeks, Rountree and Fatima pull up with Rand and Collins leading the FBI.  SWAT is on their way but not expected for 30-minutes.  The teams can’t wait and enter the theater.   There are 16-theaters.  Everyone breaks off to clear their own theaters.  Fatima and Rountree are in five, Kensi is in theater six.  Deeks enters a theater on his own.  He’s worried the place is too big – too many places to hide.  He starts looking around as one of the FBI agents notes the comms in the theater barely work.

Outside of theater seven, Rand find the group at theater eight.  Kensi and Collins are on their way.   A shot is fired during the “art” event, dropping one of the killers on the stage.  Rand is as surprised as the killers.  She yells FBI and seems stunned that everyone runs.  One of the killers, Barrington, is chased by the young FBI agent who showed the team the dead bodies earlier in the episode.  Barrington drops his knife in his right hand but has a really small boxcutter in his left palm.  When the FBI agent tries to cuff the killer, he stabs her in the throat just as Collins arrives.  As Barrington flees, Collins calls for an EMT.

The young agent claims she’s fine so Collins goes after Barrington.  In a hallway, he runs into Deeks.  The two startle the hell out of each other.  They search as a team for Barrington.

In the theater, Fatima is having the planned victim released from the board he is strapped to with the help of the FBI.  Another FBI agent removes the mask of the dead killer – it is Bobby Griffin.  Everyone wonders who shot him.

Kensi finds Cindy Ferguson trying to escape and quickly cuffs her.  “You’re not getting away, again,” Kensi tells her.

Justin Tucker, the fourth killer, runs right to where Rountree is searching.  Tucker pulls out a big knife, which Rountree insists he drop.  An elevator ping and opens, giving Tucker a way to escape.  Rountree tries to get to the elevator before the door closes but doesn’t make it.  On comms, he warns everyone that Tucker taking the elevator down.  Collins says he’s nearby but the elevator barely moves before Tucker shuts it down.

Outside the elevator, Rountree and Rand try to talk Tucker into surrendering.  Rand demands a cellphone.  He wants to speak to Vincent, the last living master.  Rountree and Rand have no idea what he’s talking about.

Deeks is in a projection room when he hears Collins call “Agent down.”  Deeks finds Collins, who says Barrington stabbed him in the neck.  With the comms are failing, Deeks goes after Barrington when Collins says he’s alright.  Deeks finds a fire exit and starts making his way down.

In the theater where all the killing was going to go on, Fatima with Kensi and Deeks are talking to Alexander, the man who nearly was killed.  She has photos on her phone of the Body Stitchers and Alexander recognizes a few of them but wonders why they don’t have a photo of the main guy – “Master”. 

Cutting a deal, Tucker will come back to the NCIS/FBI floor and turn himself in if he can speak to Vincent.  He does go to the NCIS/FBI floor where he cuts his own throat in front of the NCIS and FBI teams.

Kensi has a very tough talk with Ferguson, who the FBI dropped off at the boat shed.  Ferguson doesn’t know Michael Jeffries but she’s not interested in talking to Kensi.  Talking to Kensi takes time away from the beautiful places like the Taj Mahal and not the prison cell she will call home for the rest of her life.

Out in the main room of the boatshed, Sam is back with Deeks, Rand and Collins.  The reason to call Sam away was a paperwork issue.  Collins doesn’t think Ferguson will offer up anything – she’s too committed.  While they have to cut Jeffries loose – no real reason to hold him – Jeffries lawyered up and the lawyer wants him in witness protection.  Deeks thinks that’s the next best thing to having him in custody.  Sam wants a chance to speak to Ferguson.

Ferguson remembers Sam.  He asks to speak to her without Kensi and Kensi is happy to leave.  Reintroducing himself, Sam tells Ferguson she’s being turned over to the FBI.  Ferguson doesn’t care and Sam knows that – because she’s “stupid.”  Ferguson doesn’t like that.  She really doesn’t like when Sam tells her Vincent is in custody and spilling everything he knows.  He gets time off any sentence for every crime he helps the FBI solve – crimes that will put her in prison for decades.  Ferguson doesn’t believe him but Sam says it is a done deal.

Sam would like to Ferguson explain the whole idea of Vincent being her master.  He isn’t her master, Ferguson explains, they aren’t a “cheesy cult.”  Vincent is a great master like DaVinci or Michelangelo – a great artist like Vincent Van Gogh.  Ferguson shows off her ear and pretends to cut it off.  She is an apprentice to a great master learning their art.  It is “affecting” and Sam agrees – he’ll never forget what they did.  Ferguson goes on about their art making them immortal, gods and how they’d die for Vincent.

At home, Sam is enjoying a nice dinner with his father.  Raymond jokes that he’s cooking great meals hoping it will keep him in Sam’s house.  There’s a WBA middleweight fight that night – Sam thinks the two of them should watch together but Raymond has other plans.  A honking horn outside the house is Arkady, who knows he isn’t allowed to come inside.  Raymond is off to play poker and drink some fine whiskey.  Sam isn’t happy about this.  Raymond is annoyed – he’s happy, he has a friend and someplace fun to go.  He plans to live whatever days he has left as full a life as he can have.  Raymond hits up Sam for a few hundred dollars – he’s joking.

Just after Raymond leaves, Rand calls.  She’s sure they missed something.  Jeffries’s mother was dead for at least 48-hours based on the blood lividity tests.  He killed her – Jeffries wasn’t in custody at that time.  And if he removed his mother’s hand, he’s part of the Body Stitchers.  Sam wants another crack at Jeffries, who is being taken to an FBI safehouse in San Diego by Collins.   Sam calls with an apology to Fatima but he needs her help.  She has Kaleidoscope searching the cameras around the theater.  They are looking for video of Barrington leaving. 

Saying “Dementia can eat my shorts,” Raymond returns home with a large wad of cash.  He throws it to Sam, who was snoozing in the living room.  When Raymond leaves for bed, Fatima texts Sam – “You need to see this.”

There is video of Barrington leaving the theater through a back door.  There is someone wearing a dress shirt holding the door open for Barrington.  A flashback shows a wounded Collins getting up and letting Barrington out of the theater.

In a car, Collins is joined with Barrington, who is sure the entire state of California is looking for him.  Collins tells Barrington he updated the killer’s profile saying Barrington is likely to return to his home in Orlando.  Collins plans to have him on a beach half-way around the world.

Sam contacts Rand with questions about Collins.  Rand met Collins during the Body Stitchers case.  He’s profiled many serial killers, a logical addition to the team. 

In Collins’s car, Jeffries joins Barrington and Collins with a “gift from his mother, I thought she could give us a hand” – it’s a cooler.  Collins is relieved they got rid of the amateurs – Griffin, Tucker and Ferguson – who were only going to get them caught.  Another flashback shows Collins killing Griffin from the theater’s projection room. 

The plan is for Barrington and Jeffries to lay low for a good long time.  Collins gives them envelopes with new identities and $10,000.  There will be more cash when needed.  Down the road, they will reunite and change their art.  Make a body with three arms, five legs and a head growing out of its stomach.  “What would Picasso or Dali do?”

Rand tells Sam that Collins and Jeffries never made it to the safe house in San Diego – they were due hours ago.  She’s worried something happened to Collins.  Reviewing Collins’s interrogation of Jefferies, Sam sees Collins run his hand through his hair and showing Jeffries his ear.  Sam flashes back to Ferguson and her Vincent Van Gogh remarks.  Sam tells Rand that Collins is Vincent. 

What head canon can be formed from here:  “Monster” was a really well done episode that was also a one and done hour.  No need to stop on USA or ION when you see it is rerunning there.  It was clever (if disgusting) and rarely does the team get beaten by the bad guys at the end.  There was also the introduction of Spencer Williams and all that would unfold in the Mosley storyline.

This wasn’t that.  A little lighter on the gore, though only a little, a lot more muddled in the storytelling.  Hated the idea that what we thought were these clever psychopaths were actually just lemmings following a serial killer who was working for the FBI.  It takes away the accomplishment of the “Monster” episode.

Always happy to see Rand but Collins (with three names here – Zachary, Mark and eventually Vincent) was going to be one of two things – the red-shirted member of the team or one of the killers. 

Did like the Sam and Raymond storyline bracketing the episode.  Raymond putting his foot down about living his life the best he can as long as he can was good to see.  Sam has his father’s best interests at heart but Raymond lived a long life and planned to enjoy what he had.

Also liked that Rountree learned about the case in the FBI Academy.  A reminder how much younger he is than the rest of the team that participated in the case.

Kudos to Callen who missed both of these episodes with the Body Stitchers. 

Episode number:     The third episode of season 14.  Episode 305 overall.